5. QUESTION: We think we should be very limited about the development we allow in villages, with only a few allocated sites in villages, with good public transport connections and local services. Which villages do you think should see new development of any kind?

5.1 Growth should be focused in villages, such as Melbourn, which benefit from having a range of services and are located outside of the Cambridge Green Belt. The local plan should also take account of new transport links such as the Cambridge South Station, which creates strong sustainable public transport links between villages like Melbourn and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

5.2 It is considered very important that the Local Plan makes provision for a proportion of growth to be delivered from villages that are situated outside the Green Belt. As set out above, the current approach to allocating only a very limited number of larger sites is not considered to be sound in its current form. In particular, it is considered that additional growth should be provided within the most sustainable villages that are situated outside of the Green Belt, such as Melbourn.

5.3 It is considered that the provision for increasing the range of sites modestly to include smaller and medium sites in the rural area would provide significant benefits. For example, they could be delivered more quickly without requiring additional infrastructure, provide choice and flexibility in the housing market and secure affordable housing more immediately. This is a point recognised by the Inspector that examined the 2018 Local Plan for South Cambridgeshire as referenced within paragraph 31 of the report: “In order to arrive at a sound strategy, we consider that as a primary consideration, the Council would need to allocate more small and medium sized sites that could deliver homes in the short to medium term and help to bolster the 5-year HLS, until the Garden Communities begin to deliver housing. This would have the benefit of providing flexibility and choice in the market and the earlier provision of more affordable housing” (paragraph 114).

5.4 It is not clear why the Shared Planning Service have deviated from a clear recommendation provided by the Planning Inspectorate.

5.5 However, it is also important to acknowledge the employment sites/areas in Melbourn which will benefit from increased housing provision. The additional housing will allow people to live closer to work thus reducing car travel and increase employment opportunities. Additional housing would also contribute towards the local economy through spending on local provisions.